How to quickly and safely download data from Samsung to Xiaomi: all ways of 2026

The transition from Samsung to Xiaomi is not only about changing the brand, but also the need to transfer all the important data: photos, contacts, messages and applications. Many users face the problem: how to do it quickly, without loss and without using a computer? In 2026, there are at least 5 proven ways to transfer data between these devices, each of which is suitable for different situations.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods, from the official Smart Switch and Mi Mover utilities to alternative solutions using cloud services and physical media. We’ll focus on the nuances of why some files may not be transferred, how to avoid duplication of contacts and what to do if the process is interrupted. If you just bought a Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 14 Ultra and want to transfer data from an old Galaxy S23 or Galaxy A54, this is the guide for you.

1.The official way: Mi Mover by Xiaomi

Mi Mover is a proprietary application from Xiaomi designed to migrate data from devices to Android (including Samsung) and even iOS.It is pre-installed on all new Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, but can be downloaded from Google Play if necessary.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Supports the transfer of contacts, messages (SMS/MMS), Photos, video, audio, documents and even some system settings.
• 📲 No computer required – transmission goes directly over Wi-Fi (access point is created automatically).
• 🛡️ Encrypts data during transmission, which reduces the risk of leakage.

How to use Mi Mover:

1. On the new Xiaomi, open the Mi Mover app (usually it appears when you first turn on the Data Portability section).
2. On an old Samsung, install Mi Mover from Google Play and run it.
3. On both devices, select “I am the sender” and “I am the receiver” mode.
4. Scan it. QR-code from the Xiaomi screen on Samsung or enter PIN-link-code.
5. Select the data types to transfer and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: If Samsung has One firmware installed UI 5.0 or later, Mi Mover may not see some system files (such as Samsung Notes) in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.

Charge both phones to at least 50%|Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network (or use a mobile hotspot)|Free up space on Xiaomi (at least 20% free space)|Turn it off. VPN Firewalls on both devices-->

Samsung’s Smart Switch: Can You Use it for Xiaomi?

Samsung Smart Switch is the standard solution for data transfer between Galaxy devices, but many users are unaware that it can work with phones from other brands, including Xiaomi, the main limitation: Smart Switch does not support the transfer of applications and their data to non-removable devices (that is, Xiaomi will move only media files and contacts).

How to transfer data via Smart Switch:

• 📱 Install Smart Switch on Xiaomi from Google Play.
• 🔗 Connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi or use a cable USB-C — USB-C (need to OTG-Adapter if the ports are different).
• 📤 On Samsung, select Send Data, on Xiaomi, Choose Get Data".
• 📋 Select files to transfer (contacts, photos, videos, music) and confirm the transfer.

*Google Photos saves media files in a compressed form, unless you use the option "Original quality" (requires a paid subscription).

Mi Mover|Smart Switch|Google Drive, Mi Cloud |OTG cable or memory card |Other way-->

3.Mobile over cloud services: Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Samsung Cloud

If you don't have a cable on hand or Wi-Fi is unstable, cloud services are a reliable alternative, and the main advantage is that you can move data gradually without being tied to one session, but there are also disadvantages: limitations on the amount of free storage and possible loss of quality of media files.

Comparison of cloud services for transfer:

• 🌐 Google Drive: 15GB free, Android integration, but slow downloading of large files.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: 5GB free, optimized for Xiaomi, but may not display files correctly with Samsung.
• 📱 Samsung Cloud: 15GB free, but no backup of photos and videos (only contacts, notes, calendar) from June 1, 2021).

The following steps are provided for Google Drive:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Backup and Restore → Data Backup.
2. Select Google Drive and log in to your account.
3. Check the data types (contacts, calendar, photos) and click Create a backup.
4. On Xiaomi, log in to the same Google account and recover data via Settings → Google → Restore and Reset.

4. Direct transfer via OTG cable or memory card

If you have a USB-OTG adapter or microSD card, you can manually transfer files, which is the most reliable method for large amounts of data (for example, a collection of photos or 4K video), the main advantage is the lack of compression and quality loss, as well as the ability to selectively copy.

What you need:

• 🔌 USB-C — USB-C cable USB-A — USB-C s OTG-Adapter for older Samsung models).
• 💾 MicroSD card (if supported by both devices).
• 📂 File Manager (e.g. Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Instructions for transfer through OTG-cable:

1. Connect Samsung to Xiaomi via cable (if necessary, use it) OTG-adapter).
2. On Xiaomi, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification bar.
3. Open the file manager on Xiaomi and go to the section USB-The storage device (this is the memory of your Samsung).
4. Copy the folders you need (DCIM for photos, Downloads for downloads) into internal memory or to a Xiaomi memory card.

⚠️ Note: When copying through MTP Some system files (such as WhatsApp backups) may not be displayed. To see them, turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.

💡

If Xiaomi doesn’t see Samsung through OTG, Try changing the roles of the devices: connect the cable in reverse order (first to Xiaomi, then to Samsung) and select the mode "USB-"Drive" on both phones.

5. Applications and their data portability: what works and what doesn’t

One of the most difficult aspects of switching from Samsung to Xiaomi is migrating apps and their data (e.g., saves in games, chat history on Telegram or WhatsApp). Unfortunately, most of the methods in the previous sections do not cope with this task.

What can be transferred:

• 📱 WhatsApp: Chat backup is created in Google Drive (on Samsung) and restored to Xiaomi on first login.
• 🎮 Cloud-Saving Games: If the game supports sync via Google Play Games or Facebook, progress will automatically recover.
• 📌 Apps from Google Play: the list of installed apps can be restored through a Google account (but without user data!).

What is impossible (or very difficult):

• 🚫 Samsung System Apps (Samsung Health, Samsung Pay, Bixby) – They Don’t Work on Xiaomi.
• 🚫 Local game saves without cloud sync (e.g., Genshin Impact without account binding).
• 🚫 Launcher settings (location of icons, folders on the main screen).

To port WhatsApp:

1. On Samsung, open Settings → Chat → Backup and create a copy in Google Drive.
2. Install WhatsApp on Xiaomi, log in to the same account and restore chats when requested.
3. If the copy is not restored, check that Xiaomi uses the same phone number and Google account as Samsung.

💡

The only reliable way to transfer these applications is through cloud backups (Google Drive, iCloud for cross-platform services) or manual export (for example, through Titanium Backup for rooted devices).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when using official tools, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Mi Mover doesn't see Samsung

• 🔄 Reboot both phones and try again.
• 📶 Turn it off. VPN Check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• 🔧 On Samsung, turn on the developer mode (Settings) → The phone. → Build number – press 7 times) and activate Debugging by USB.

Problem 2: No photos or videos are tolerated

• 📁 Check that files are not hidden (in file managers, enable the display of hidden folders).
• 🗑️ Free up space on Xiaomi – if memory is less than 10%, the transfer may be interrupted.
• 🔄 Try an alternative method (e.g., via Google Photos or cable) OTG).

Problem 3: Duplicate contacts after transfer

• 📇 Open the Contacts app on Xiaomi and select Contact Management → Combine duplicates.
• 🗃️ Export contacts to a.vcf file on Samsung, then import it to Xiaomi via Settings → Contacts → Imports/Exports.

7.Alternative methods: computer, Bluetooth and third-party applications

If none of the above methods are suitable, you can use less popular, but sometimes more effective methods.

Transfer via computer (Windows/macOS):

• 🖥️ Connect Samsung to your PC via cable and copy files to a folder on your hard drive.
• 📲 Connect Xiaomi and transfer files back.
• 🔍 For convenience, use programs like Samsung Kies (outdated, but works) or Android File Transfer (for macOS).

Transfer via Bluetooth:

• 📶 Suitable only for small files (up to 100 MB).
• ⚡ Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, find Xiaomi in the list of available devices on Samsung and send files.
• ⏳ The transmission speed is very low (about 1-2 MB / s), so the method is not suitable for large volumes.

Party of the portability annex:

• 📲 Send Anywhere: transfer files over Wi-Fi Direct without limiting the scope.
• 🔗 Xender: similar to Send Anywhere, but with cross-platform support (including iOS).
• 📎 CLONEit: specializes in data migration between Android devices, including call history and SMS.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party data applications, never connect to public Wi-Fi networks without the need to connect to the Internet. VPN — This can lead to the interception of personal information (photos, messages) through vulnerabilities in the transmission protocol.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions